Pallet



Oct. 5, 1948., P. M. wlsBERGER PALLET Filed May ll, 1945 f `Illu. ln ll Paa/ lfl/llsbe/ger Patented Oct. 5, 1948 ,UNITED STATES PATENT lOFFICE l PALLET Paul M. Wirbel-ger, Akron. Ohio, assigner to'Goodyear Aircraft Corporation, Akron, hio, a oorporation of Delaware Appiioatlon May 11, 1945, Serial No. 593,269

9 claim. (el. 24a- 120i struction which makes for high production cost.

It is the general object of the invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other diiliculties of 'and objections to prior art prac. tices by the provision of a pallet including single corrugated metal plates, two of which are connected, with their identical faces joining, byde- `tachable'connecting means. When being stored or returned in shipment, the pallets are disassembled. one plate is turned over, and the plates are nested or put together in such a way that their corrugations ilt into each other to require the least possible space.

Another object ofthe invention is to obtain a most simple construction involving least cost of production by pressing the pallet in two identical halves made of single sheets.

Another object oi the invention is to obtain a rugged pallet which 'will withstand rough handling and retain its shape.

The aforesaid objects of the invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by providing the supporting plates made of single sheets on which the material is placed with a plurality oi' corrugatlons running in one direction and, for further stiifening, with a deep center corrugation across the first-mentioned 'corrugations. Two of such plates are assembled by readily detachable connecting means whereby their center corrugations come to lie against each other as well as their corrugated bent-down edges so that two pockets are formed for inserting the supporting tongues or fork of the lift truck to make handling easy.

For a better understanding of the invention .reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a plan view of the invention,A

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure l of one half, and the other half a cross-sectional view taken on line II-II,

Figure 3 is a side view of Figure l. v

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2 IV-IV of Figure 1 ,showing the detachable connection.

With specific reference to the form of the in- 'vention illustrated in the drawing the numeral i indicates the substantially identical plates forming the two halves of the pallet which are made of al single metal sheet -ancl provided with a plurality of equally spaced corrugations 2 running in one direction and with a much deeper center corrugation 3 krunning across the corrugations 2. At the edges running parallel to the corrugation 3 the plates are bent down in an 8 curve to the same level-as the bottom of the center corrugation to form ilanged ends 4 between the corrugations 2. Y

The flanged ends 4 are used to connect the pallet halves together in what might be termed a back-to-back relation by any desired detachable fasteners, but preferably of the Dzus type shown, including the parts 5 and 8 permanently attached to the plates I. In order to make both plates alike the fasteners are so arranged that the male parts are inserteddiagonally in one direction of a plate and the mating parts diagohally in the other direction of the same plate so that any two plates can be readily assembled to a complete pallet. Bolts, of course, could be used instead, but which are avoided, because they may Aeasily get lost, and because they require more time for connecting and disconnecting.

By the connection of the two pallet plates,

pockets 1 for inserting a lifting truck fork or tongues are automatically formed. The lower half of the pallet, although not directly subjected to loads during lifting will assist to stiilen the upper half and makes a satisfactory support when set on the ground with loads piled thereupon. In disassembled condition the pallets, whenl nested and stacked upon each other on top of one which is assembled, for easy handling, need very little space as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2. In this way the pallets can be readily lifted and moved from the floor in a storeroom or railroad car.

It will be recognized that the objects of the invention have been achieved by making the pallet oi very simple construction and of press parts requiring very little labor and therefore low cost in production. All pallet halves are interchangeable and readily assembled into a complete unit.

The materialto be used is preferably light aluminum alloy for light weight. however, steel may be used instead or any other suitable material. The pallet owing to its corrugated plates is very stiff and strong and when stacked cannot slip in spite of its smooth surfaces. The corrugations, of course, can be arranged and shaped differently from those illustrated in the drawing.

While in accordance with the patent statutes one best known embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be .understood that the invention ls not limited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is dened in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. .A pallet made of sheet material comprising two identical supporting plates being uniformly corrugated in one direction and being bent along the center transverse to said corrugations to a groove deeper than said corrugations, as well as along the edges parallel tosaid groove, the bottom of the groove and of said edges being in contact with each other, and detachable connecting means for holding said plates together irremovably secured to said edges.

2. A pallet made of sheet material comprising two corrugated supporting plates in contact with each other along the center transverse to I said corrugations and at the edges parallel to said center and there-between extending outside the plane of said contacts to form pockets for inserting the fork of a llift truck, and detachable connecting means for holding said plates together and being secured thereto, said supporting plates when unassembled being adapted to be stacked up within a much smaller space than when assembled by fitting the corrugations of said plates into each other.

3. A two-piece pallet comprising substantially identical opposite plates provided with a plurality of spaced integral inwardly extending flanged oifsets -in abutting relation to form at least one pocket between said plates for inserting the fork of a lifting truck, and separable means for securing said plates together.

4. A two-piece pallet comprising substantially identical opposite plates provided with a plurality of spaced integral inwardly extending nanged oil'sets in abutting relation to form at least one pocket between said plates for inserting the fork of a lifting truck, and separable means permanently attached to said plates for securing said plates together.

5. A two-piece pallet comprising two substantially identical corrugated plates provided with integral flanged offset portions extending inwardly transversely to said corrugationg along opposite edges and therebetween in abutting relation to form pockets for inserting therein the fork of a lifting truck, and separable means for connecting said plates.

8. A pallet comprising two substantially identical plate members, each member having an integral flange substantially adjacent opposed edges, said members nesting in one relative position to facilitate shipment or storage, and when one member is turned over the flanges abutting to provide a pocket between the members for introduction of the fork of a lift truck, and means to secure the members together in the last mentioned position.

7. A pallet comprising two members, each member deilning at least one channel in cross section, the members being adapted to be nested when the channels extend to the same sides of the members, and adapted to deilne a channel of. double depth when one of the members ls turned over, and means connecting the edges of the channels together in quickly releasable manner when in the last-named position.

8. A pallet comprising a substantially identi-V ing the integral means together where they engage each other, said integral means holding the top and bottom apart so that a fork of a lift truck can be introduced therebetween, said pallet structure being characterized by having the top nest in the bottom when the top is removed4 and inverted.

9. A two part pallet comprising identical top and bottom members having integral flange portions engaging each other midway between theV members, means releasably connecting the flangeportions together, said pallet being characterized by having the top member nest in the bottom member when the top member is removed and inverted.

. PAUL M. WIBBERGER.

` aeeeaeNoes crren The following referencesare of record in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS nec. 2s, 1942 

